Ladders, mechanisms and components for ladders, and related methods

Abstract

Ladders and ladder components are provided including feet for ladders configured for securement of the ladder to a supporting surface, adjustable leg members for ladders, bearing members for ladders, and adjustment mechanisms for ladders. In one embodiment, an adjustment mechanism may include a first pair of spaced apart rails, a pair of adjustable legs having a first end hingedly coupled to one of a pair of adjustment mechanisms and a second end coupled with a foot. The adjustment mechanisms may be slidably coupled with the rails and in one embodiment, each adjustment mechanism is selectively displaceable along a length of its associated rail only when upward force is absent from the adjustment mechanism, the upward force being defined in a direction from a lower end of the associated rail towards the adjustment mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A ladder comprising:
 a first pair of spaced apart rails; 
 a plurality of rungs extending between and coupled to the first pair of spaced apart rails; 
 a pair of adjustable legs, wherein each adjustable leg has a first end hingedly coupled to a respective one of a pair of adjustment mechanisms and a second end coupled with a respective foot of a pair of feet; 
 a pair of swing arms, each swing arm being pivotally coupled with a respective rail of the pair of spaced apart rails and also being pivotally coupled with an associated leg of the pair of adjustable legs; 
 a pair of lock plates, each lock plate being fixed to an outer surface of a respective rail of the first pair of rails and having at least one column of openings, each adjustment mechanism being slidably coupled with a respective lock plate of the pair of lock plates; 
 wherein each adjustment mechanism includes a lock pin having a laterally extending protrusion for releasable and selective engagement with one or more openings of the at least one column of openings, each adjustment mechanism further including an upward extending lip on an end of the protrusion, the lip being configured to prevent release of the laterally extending protrusion from an associated opening of the at least one column of openings until an upward force associated with a weight of the ladder is absent from the adjustment mechanism, the upward force being defined in a direction from a lower end of the associated rail towards the adjustment mechanism. 
 
     
     
       2. The ladder of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one column of openings includes two columns of staggered openings. 
     
     
       3. The ladder of  claim 1 , wherein the lock pin is biased towards engagement with an aligned opening of the at least one column of openings. 
     
     
       4. The ladder of  claim 1 , wherein each adjustment mechanism includes an upper surface configured for engagement by the palm of a user and a slidable release handle configured for engagement by the fingers of the user so that the user may displace the release lever relative to the upper surface through a squeezing action. 
     
     
       5. The ladder of  claim 4 , wherein the release handle includes a recess and a shoulder portion above the recess. 
     
     
       6. The ladder of  claim 1 , wherein each foot of the pair of feet includes a body portion and an open-faced slot formed in a peripheral edge of the body portion.